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KREL

Psychedelic/Space Rock • United Kingdom


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Krel biography
Back in 1988, Martin M. (guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, voices) and Radar Dave (guitars, voices) - who had formed a band called Moonstone, playing Hawkwind covers and original material - were inspired by Nik Turner's 'Watching The Grass Grow' to be more immersed in space rock scene. They recruited Mr. Dibs (bass) and Floyd (keyboards, synths) for the organization of a new space rock band Purple Otter Trotters, playing a gig for the Traveller's Aid Trust in Manchester and releasing a tape titled Mike Moorcock's Underpants, a creditable collection of Hawkwind covers. In the next year the band was reborn as KREL, with the addition of a new drummer Mike Man.

KREL made a great effort into gigging around Stockport and Manchester to promote their self-produced debut cassette 'Who's Next On This', and gained fame with their live performances or as a competent supporter for the famous space rock outfits, including gigs with Ozric Tentacles in Manchester and Wolverhampton. Asked to play a couple of support slots for Hawkwind at Bradford and York as a small taster for the British spring 1992 tour, KREL continued to gig locally as well as playing at a Club Dog event in London. They spent next few months rehearsing as well as recording lots of materials for the next cassette album 'Dark Star', which was released to accompany the British tour with Hawkwind. Over 45,000 people could get enthusiastic over KREL's performances with their original audio-visual system.

In May 1993, the next cassette album 'Earth Zero' could achieve high levels of interest, particularly in Europe. Although Mike Man was replaced by Gibo as a drummer, KREL could keep active and accept the invitation to support the Enid for charity gigs of National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). In 1995, after Mr. Dibs' leaving the band for the formation of Spacehead, KREL recorded the excellent 'About Time (to Emit)' tape, almost a solo work by Martin M. and exactly the basis of their debut CD. 'About Time (to Emit)' was reworked & polished into a complete work 'As Astra', that was approved and released in 1996 by Dead Earnest label.

Nothing has been heard from KREL around the new millennium but Dead Earnest had planned to release a compilation CD of the remastered tracks from the previous cassette-only works. In 2003 Dead Earnest decided to ask Martin for releasing KREL's new album. This request was not his pleasure, but eventually their new work - consisting of tracks ...
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KREL discography


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KREL top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.50 | 2 ratings
Ad Astra
1997
0.00 | 0 ratings
Out Of Space
2004

KREL Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

KREL Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

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KREL Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

KREL Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Ad Astra by KREL album cover Studio Album, 1997
3.50 | 2 ratings

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Ad Astra
Krel Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

4 stars There are arguably far too few bands trying to emulate the mighty Hawkwind, so when I saw that this CD was by a band that had actually completed a full tour with them as long ago as 1992 I knew I was in for a treat. Then I read that Andy G had been inspired to set up the Dead Ernest label just to release this album and I was quite intrigued.

What could this album contain? The answer is one of the most powerful space rock albums that I have heard in many an aeon. Krel are pretty much a one man band these days with Martin M being joined by a guest on only a couple of the songs. This contains all that a space rock fan could want, with long held down keyboard chords a la Hawkwind, Floyd, or Gong. On top of that are the insistent repeated melodies, with a strong bass line, as well as vocals coming in and out of the mix.

The album is now four years old and it is very much my loss that I have only just heard it. Let it not be yours and discover the space rock of Krel.

Originally appeared in Feedback #65, Dec 01

 Ad Astra by KREL album cover Studio Album, 1997
3.50 | 2 ratings

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Ad Astra
Krel Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by DamoXt7942
Forum & Site Admin Group Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams

3 stars During about 10 years from 'their' debut, KREL had been a four- or five-piece space rock band. However, this brilliant debut CD with Hawkwindish spice on Krelian taste was, surprisingly, almost a solo work by Martin M. Were the other members unnecessary for KREL? ...We should feel so on listening to 'his' work.

Well suggest Martin M. could tighten a screw into the work by effort after Mr. Dibs, a talented bassist, leaving away. We can catch a glimpse of his strong intention to product the new 'space'. Sometimes like a blowin' wind, sometimes like a dramatic show, and sometimes like a ground rumbling - the time named Ad Astra by Martin goes through our heart from left to right. Usually space rock is dry, repetitive, flat and a bit boring (sorry!), but particularly about this Ad Astra, all 'negative' words mentioned before should not be used, in my humble opinion. On the spacey sounds in the space, Martin could drop spicy waves like comets and itsy-bitsy climax like a spaceship. Joking aside, he ornamented his work with colourful stardust by various instruments and dry flavour by his (not-so-good) voices - that can let me shout that how spicy and fragrant his interpretation of space rock should be.

It's too sad for me that this is one and only KREL's official studio work.

Thanks to DamoXt7942 for the artist addition.

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